Fair to good. 348+ pages. Fanny is a large cheerful indomitable Tyneside widow with a large cheerful family. When she reaches her 50s she begins to feel lonely once their sons and daughters except one had married and left home. so she takes a job at the local "ladies" which was to prove surprisingly stimulating experience. Then there was a long-standing feud with Mrs Flannigan, the problem of her favourite childs unsuitable marriage, and the puzzle of fannys one unmarried son who was far from being a typical MacBride
